2019 Yamaha 20 HP F20SWB Outboard Motor

A shorter 15-inch shaft, remote mechanical steering, and a dual electric-and-manual starter mark the 2019 Yamaha F20SWB, rated 20 hp from two cylinders. New, it weighs 126 lbs, fuel-injected at 432cc, spinning 5000 to 6000 rpm wide open.

Before you order

Remote steering means this motor runs from a console through cables rather than a tiller handle at the transom, so confirm the boat's existing rigging matches before ordering. A shaft that is shorter than the transom calls for will leave the prop running too shallow, cutting both cooling and bite, so check the 15-inch shaft against the transom height separately.

Who it suits

Shorter-transom boats rigged for console control get the same electric-plus-backup setup here, so a weak battery does not strand the boat at the ramp.

Why keep the manual backup

A boat used only on weekends is exactly where a battery tends to go flat from disuse; having the pull cord as a fallback means that is an inconvenience rather than a wasted trip to the water. Keeping the cord accessible under the cowling means it is never more than a minute away.

Common questions

What is the shaft length? 15 inches. How does this start? By console-mounted electric switch, with a pull-cord backup. How much weight does it add on the transom? 126 lbs, and Yamaha backs it with a 3-year warranty.